Brighid's Flame Read Online Free

other, now that he had apparently decided he was, he’d applied his characteristic persistence and drive to the matter. When Julien knew what he wanted, he didn’t like to wait. But Tara would prefer to savor the experience of being wooed by him, now that things were changing between them.
    Ten minutes and one invigorating shower later—even the great Vincent Dante was subject to hot water rationing—saw Tara exiting her bathroom, tying her knee-length kimono of silver gray in place. Stephen was just entering her living room, breakfast tray in hand. “Is that coffee?” she asked hopefully.
    He grinned, his dark sweater turning his eyes to jade. “Would I ever let you down?”
    â€œForgive me for doubting.” She took her customary seat at the smoked-glass table for two at the windows overlooking the Hudson, gesturing her usual invitation. “What are we working with?”
    Stephen poured the coffee, added a dash of cream and two sugar lumps to his. “How is he?”
    â€œResting. He’ll be up and about in a few days.”
    Stephen nodded. “You’ll have to go in unarmed. We can’t risk you getting caught in the Shanties with an open weapon, not even the stunner.”
    Tara’s amused smile flat-lined, but she nodded her understanding. Weapons were strictly forbidden in the Shanties—which only meant weapons tended to be restricted to the creatively concealed or homemade variety. She would have to improvise. “Something tells me you won’t leave me unprepared.”
    â€œThe van leaves in an hour. Will you be ready?”
    She cocked an eyebrow. “Who’s doubting now?”
    â€œPerish the thought.” Stephen sat back, one leg crossed over the other as he regarded her over the fragrant steam. “Why do you think Nick did it?”
    Tara wrapped both hands around her china cup. “Does it matter?”
    â€œIt might. The Dante Foundation has probably put a crimp in his business operations, for one. We fill a need in the Park he doesn’t.”
    â€œYes, but how does shooting Julien change that? Vincent—”
    She stopped, frozen in realization. She pictured Julien and Vincent standing side-by-side, as she’d seen them last night. This image changed to a tall, golden figure in an expensive tuxedo surrounded by security. A shooter made night-blind by the city’s obscuring pollution and the rising anger of a crowd verging on mob, their signs bobbing aloft. The figure pulled into the shadows by a guard. The shooter, overly-anxious, nervous, and with underground resources able to obtain nearly anything.
    Underground.
    â€œTara?” Stephen took the cup from her hands before she dropped it. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œWhat if Julien wasn’t the target at all?” she said, eyes still blank with the horror her imagination wrought. “What if the target was Vincent?”
    They stared at each other. The Dante Foundation without Vincent Dante—inconceivable. Not to mention devastating for the city. Tara, Julien, Stephen, and Gwen could all work ten times as hard as they did at present, but without Vincent, no one would take them seriously.
    Tara’s fists clenched. It took supreme conscious effort to uncurl them. There had been threats, of course—even before the fall of Dreamtech, Vincent had cultivated plenty of enemies looking to stop him gaining a foothold. But this was the first time anyone had actually attempted to take a shot at him. And why Nick? “We need to find out what’s going on. Now. We can’t give them another opportunity.”
    Stephen checked his ever-present tablet. “Vincent’s indoors all day in meetings. Gwen will be with him the entire time.”
    So there was some good news, at least. Tara had been wondering when it would be along. “Get everything ready. I’ll be with you in half an hour.”
    When he was gone, Tara remained